Garment-supporter



S. H. WHIT'GOMB. Garment Supporter.

No. 234,932. Patented Nov. 30,1880.

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- Qmp Z N.FETERSv FHOT-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. DC.

UNiTEn STATES ATENT Fries.

SYBELL H. WVHITCOMB, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,932, dated November30, 1880.

Application filed December 23, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SYBELL H. WHITCOMB, of\Vorcester, in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvements in Garment-Supports, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to suspenders for the use of ladies and children;and it consists in a supporting device composed of two strips or bandsof suitable material, each extendingfrom just above the knee directlyupward, over the shoulder, thence downward diagonally across the backand forward to a point between the waist and knee, where it joins withand is secured to the other band, the bands crossing at the back, andbeing secured to a belt or waistband at each point of crossingtherewith.

The invention further consists in providing the belt with books tosupport the skirts and drawers, and providing both the belt and thebands at the point of crossing with slides, by which they may beadjusted to the wearer.

In the accompanying; drawings, Figure 1 rep resents my improvedsuspenders in position. Fig. 2 is a view of the same removed from theperson of the wearer; and Figs. 3 and 4, detached views, illustratingdifferent modifications of the manner of fastening the hooks to thesuspenders.

The primary object of this invention is to produce a device forsupporting the long hose commonly worn by women and children, and one bywhich all the weight and strain shall be received directly upon theshoulders of the wearer without interfering in any way with the freedomof movement of the body or limbs.

A secondary objectis to afford a convenient and healthful means ofsupporting the various articlesof underwear.

With these objects in view I construct my improved suspenders asrepresented in the drawings, in which A and B represent two bands orstrips of webbing, which constitute, primarily, the sustainin g orsupporting part of my device. Each of these bands is carried from apoint somewhat above the knee of the wearer, as in Fig. 1, directlyupward to and over the shoulder, thence diagonally downward across theback, and, finally, around to the other band at a short distance belowthe waist, where it is securely attached to said second band, as shown.

0 represents a belt or waistband, which is firmly secured or attached tothe bands A and B at each point of crossin g therewith, said beltbeingprovided at the front with a buckle or clasp, a, and at the backwith a slide, 1), by which latter the distance between the bands A and Bat the back may be regulated to suit the wearer.

To the lower free ends of the bands A and B are attached the garters orstocking-supporters c, preferably by means of buckles or clasps, asshown, in order that their height may be regulated to suit differentpersons and different lengths of stockings. These garters may be of anysuitable form-such, for instance, as those commonly in use with otherforms of suspenders.

It will be observed that by arranging the bands A and B in the mannerabove described all the strain is brought upon the shoulders, where itcan be received most advantageously.

In securing the end of one band to the other strip or band, afterpassing'diagonally across the back,it is desirable that the connectionbe made at or about the point on the front'of the leg touched by thebase of the thumb when the arm is allowed to hang down straight, as inthat case the union will be made where there is but little motion inwalking or running, and consequently there will be little or no tendencyon the part of the bands or strips A and B to draw or move out ofposition.

In order to adapt the suspenders for supporting the skirts and drawers,or the drawers and pantaloons when used by small boys, the belt or band0 is furnished with a number of hooks, cl, upon which are hooked or hungrings or eyes 0, sewed or otherwise made fast to the garments.

The hooks at may be provided with perforations, like a button, toreceive the thread, as in Fig. 2, or provided each with a ring, as inFigs. 1, 3, and 4.

The bands or strips A and B may, instead of being each one continuouspiece, be formed each of two pieces, all being attached to a common ringor eye at the back. In practice, however, I prefer to make them each ofone continuous piece, as shown, and to pass them both through a slide,f,at their point of crossing, in order that by adjusting the slide theymay be adjusted to the form of the wearer.

By using the suspenders constructed as above described the extra waistor body hitherto commonly used to support the drawers may be dispensedwith.

As there is no tendency on the part of the bands or straps A and B tochange their posisition, it follows that the belt, which is firmlyattached thereto, will always remain in its proper position, instead ofbeing drawn up or down at certain points,the hooks at being preferablyattached where the belt and they shoulder-straps cross, to furtherinsure this result.

I am aware that suspenders for pantaloons and skirts have been made oftwo bands crossed on the back and carried downward over the shoulders,and terminating at a point of union above the hips at or in rear of thehip-bone; also, that pendent straps to support stockings have beenattached to suspenders of different kinds, and I make no claim to saidarrangements or either of their individual features.

My invention is limited to the special and peculiar arrangement ofstraps shown in the accompanying drawings, and it is this specialarrangement, the location of the various points therein, and thepeculiar connection of the straps in relation to each other that give mycontrivance its value.

It will be observed that the waist belt or band is not essential to thesupport of the stockings, and that the bands A B and the devices attheir ends constitute in themselves a complete device for sustaining thestockings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In astocking-supporter, the combination of the two bands A B, each adaptedand arranged to extend from a point just above the knee upward directlyover the shoulder on the same side of the person, and thence diagonallydownward across the back to the other band at a point belowthelwaist-line, the two bands being firmly united at their points ofintersection on the frontof the leg, and being provided at the ends withmeans, substantially such as shown,to hold the top of the stockings,whereby the strain of the stocking is transmitted directly to theshoulders, a free motion of the legs permitted, and the straining andshifting of the bands avoided.

2. The combination of the two bands A B, crossed at the back, passedstraight down the front, and united at or near the hip, with one endcontinued downward toward the knee, and the belt 0, connected to thebands, and provided with skirt-supporting devices.

SYBELL H. IVHI 'IJGOMB.

\Vitnesses:

SAML. H. CLAY, L. STELLA WHITOOMB.

